16:10 Cheltenham

Thursday 17 March 2022

All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30

Craft Irish Whiskey Co. Plate Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 5m 13.85s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Hardline^p1²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr R James⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 155

50/1

It's now thirteen runs since his last win in 2018, but he did take a step back in the right direction when runner-up in Grade 2 at Gowran last month. No forlorn hope with cheekpieces applied.

Form:

Imperial Alcazar^t⁴⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 152| CD

7/2

Very useful hurdler who jumped much better than previously when opening his account in this sphere over C&D on Trials Day. Up 8 lb for that success but there's every chance he will be in the mix.

Form:

Wishing And Hoping³³

Age: 12| Weight: 11-2| J: Alex Edwards⁽³⁾| T: Mrs M Rowley| OR: 145

40/1

Sound-jumping front runner who bagged Worcester hunter and Aintree handicap this term. Better than ever when runner-up at Warwick last month but not featured in anything so competitive before.

Form:

Coole Cody⁴⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-2| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 145| BF| CD

22/1

Tough front runner who has bagged a couple of similar events around here, including Racing Post Gold Cup in December. Not at his best on last couple of starts but impossible to discount.

Form:

Schiehallion Munro⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: C O'Farrell| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 145

33/1

Likeable sort who confirmed the promise of his reappearance when winning at Wetherby on Boxing Day. Followed up on the back of a 4 lb rise there last month but this is much more competitive.

Form:

Grand Paradis^t²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: J W Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 145| BF| D

11/2

Dual winner over hurdles and he's taken well to fences, making a third-placed effort in a row at Gowran last month. 1 of 3 for Gordon Elliott so warrants considerable respect on handicap debut.

Form:

Stolen Silver^t⁶⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: S Thomas| OR: 144| BF

18/1

Made an excellent start for this yard, scoring at Market Rasen in October before an excellent second here next time. Not dismissed having finished with running left when third at Wincanton last time.

Form:

The Glancing Queen⁷⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 141| C| D

4/1

Likeable mare who has impressed over fences this term, making it 2-2 in a listed mares' event at Warwick in December. Unable to live with L'Homme Presse in Dipper last time but this more suitable.

Form:

Celebre D'Allen³³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 141

4/1

Off 2 years but stylish winner of two Haydock handicap hurdles for his current yard in December. Completed hat-trick on his first start over fences in Britain last time so rates a leading player.

Form:

Adrimel^b,t²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 140| D

7/1

Grade 2 winning hurdler last season and seemingly revitalised in blinkers recently, scoring in small-field events at Haydock the last twice. This much more competitive but certainly not ruled out.

Form:

Born By The Sea⁸¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: S W Flanagan| T: P J Gilligan| OR: 140

66/1

Doubled his tally over fences at Galway in July but unsuited by the marked drop in trip after 3 months off at Leopardstown on Boxing Day. Off since and percentage call is to look elsewhere.

Form:

Spiritofthegames^p⁴⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 136

12/1

Regular in competitive handicaps and finished with running left when mid-field in the Paddy Power here. Back on track last time after a couple of below-par efforts so certainly not dismissed off 136.

Form:

Slate House^b,t²²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-3| J: Brendan Powell| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 132| C

40/1

Stopped the slide at in blinkers when runner-up at Wincanton and filled that same spot next start at Taunton. However finished a disappointing fourth at Ludlow recently and so has plenty to prove.

Form:

Fire Away^t,v1¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: David Noonan| T: L Morgan| OR: 132| D

100/1

Useful chaser who has a terrific strike rate since joining this stable, winning 5 times. Probably needed the run on Newcastle return last month and a career-best is required in a first-time visor.

Form:

Chinwag^t³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: T Scudamore| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 132

28/1

Largely progressive over hurdles and confirmed chase debut promise when winning at Ffos Las in November. Quickly resumed his progressive ways to score at Plumpton recently and it remains early days.

Form:

Non-Runners

Simply The Betts⁴⁷

Weight: 11-12| Age: 9

T: P F Nicholls J: Non Runner

Pistol Whipped¹¹⁷

Weight: 11-9| Age: 8

T: N J Henderson J: N de Boinville

Fusil Raffles⁴⁷

Weight: 11-6| Age: 7

T: N J Henderson J: D A Jacob

Cavalry Master⁸⁰

Weight: 11-2| Age: 8

T: H De Bromhead J: Rachael Blackmore

Presentandcounting¹⁵⁹

Weight: 11-0| Age: 8

T: D McCain Jnr J: Non Runner

Fancy Foundations⁸⁹

Weight: 10-8| Age: 8

T: G Elliott J: J C Gainford

Guy⁴³

Weight: 10-0| Age: 7

T: N & W Twiston-Davies J: Jordan Nailor

Forecasts

Imperial Alcazar (7/2), Celebre D'Allen (4/1), The Glancing Queen (4/1), Grand Paradis (11/2), Adrimel (7/1), Fusil Raffles (8/1), Spiritofthegames (12/1), Fancy Foundations (12/1), Simply The Betts (14/1), Stolen Silver (18/1), Coole Cody (22/1), Cavalry Master (25/1), Guy (25/1), Pistol Whipped (25/1), Presentandcounting (25/1), Chinwag (28/1), Schiehallion Munro (33/1), Slate House (40/1), Wishing And Hoping (40/1), Hardline (50/1), Born By The Sea (66/1), Fire Away (100/1)

Cases can be made for several but CELEBRE D'ALLEN had plenty up his sleeve when completing the hat-trick on his first chase start in Britain at Warwick last month, having to pick his way through rivals. He's no ordinary 10-y-o and, ticking plenty of boxes, he can make it 4 on the spin. Grand Paradis, The Glancing Queen and Imperial Alcazar are just a handful of other contenders.